Backcountry.com has 50 pair of pre-launch Hoji special edition boots you can shop for.

Hoji Pro ski boot by Dynafit.

We’re in east central Colorado drinking Dynafit pants down koolaid at a press event. Big story is of course Hoji boot. We have a fairly large group of journalists out on Eldora resort testing the boot, uphill and down. Consensus is positive, nice to see the boot working out considering the three years of hard labor both Hoji and Fritz Barthel put into it.

While the official retail of the Hoji doesn’t begin until next fall, guess what? You, my friends, can go to early adopter heaven if you can get in on a 50 pair sale (sizes 25 through 28). Much to the chagrin of every other retailer on the planet, Backcountry.com is being graced with this “quiet” launch (starts this coming Thursday!). I thought I’d get this out there, now, so you can do whatever is required to reserve your pair and forever after “keep your pants down — always.”

I’ll ask Hoji to be sure, but the early protos were just a Vulcan scaffo, or are you talking about the semi-early protos? (smile) I’m sitting next to a retail pair, and they don’t look any narrower than the ones I saw months ago. Lou

Xer, I added a comparo photo with a Vulcan. For what it’s worth. I would not call Hoji a narrow last, but like any boot I wouldn’t make too many assumptions until you actually bake a liner for your foot. Lou

neonorchid
January 23rd, 2018 3:51 pm

Looking at the comparison to the old boot top down photo they appear tailor made to my foot shape, very much like my Solomon X-Max alpine boots.
Only they won’t be compatible with the Solomon Shift binding which for my needs puts them low on my seek out and try on list, a shame.
Any talk of a Salomon Shift binding compatible version of this boot?

Karl
January 23rd, 2018 5:08 pm

…not im my size 🙁

Sandy Brown
January 23rd, 2018 6:54 pm

Hi Lou, Clarification on the release. It’s only 50 pairs, not 500, that will be available this winter. Even more reason to get your “reservations” in early! Thanks for the hard work of testing – Pants down Always

the industry type I talked to said the last had been changed which will fit more people whatever that might mean but it still sounds like it fits pretty big

Cody
January 23rd, 2018 7:48 pm

Neonorchid It’s the Atomic Hawk XTD or Vulcan 😛

See, the Cramp-In is a little hole in the bottom of the boot that will fill with snow and ice and be the catalyst for cursing in the back country. IE a work around for not having the security of a full auto crampon since you can’t have them with the dumb sharknose. So instead you get to buy a proprietary crampon for a proprietary attachment system, OR just buy a semiauto crampon. Also Hoji didn’t want the shark nose…that was a Dynafit executive decision.

Cody
January 23rd, 2018 7:48 pm

Neonorchid It’s the Atomic Hawk XTD or Vulcan 😛

See, the Cramp-In is a little hole in the bottom of the boot that will fill with snow and ice and be the catalyst for cursing in the back country. IE a work around for not having the security of a full auto crampon since you can’t have them with the dumb sharknose. So instead you get to buy a proprietary crampon for a proprietary attachment system, OR just buy a semiauto crampon. Also Hoji didn’t want the shark nose…that was a Dynafit executive decision.

See
January 23rd, 2018 8:01 pm

Perhaps worth it if having the toe pivot point a few millimeters back is a big improvement. I’m skeptical, but anyone with experience care to comment?

See
January 23rd, 2018 8:35 pm

Didn’t mean to sound like I was suggesting you don’t have experience. I was just interested about supposed advantages to shark nose.

Jeremy G
January 24th, 2018 7:20 am

This is my second season on the TLT7s and no I don’t think the shark nose is worth it. It may tour slightly better but that doesn’t outweigh the annoyance of not having auto crampon compatibility for me. And I don’t even use crampons that often. I tried Dynafit’s conversion kit thingy but it didn’t seem to fit my pons very well or be a huge improvement over semi-autos. I also think the standard toe welt is a little better for kicking steps in firm snow. I hope Dynafit just goes away from it.

wtofd
January 24th, 2018 7:58 am

Jeremy,
” I also think the standard toe welt is a little better for kicking steps in firm snow.”
Common sense, right?

swissiphic
January 24th, 2018 8:49 am

soooo; considering the Vulcan shell/rear cuff was used as the foundation for external/internal add on mods to dial in the new ski/walk mode lever system…where can i buy the aftermarket mod kit for my present Vulcans? Lou; step by step d.i.y. blog post please. 🙂

I’m in trouble now…. it’s 50 boots to be sold NOT 500. But, I swear someone said 500… In any case, get ’em while they’re hot!

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